A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A PATIENT

DAY 1
Oh the pain is crippling me,  to the doctors I must go,
“Lie down” he says, “I must examine you”,  “I can’t, it hurts me so”,
“It’s the hospital for you” says he,  as I rock and writhe around,
A bigger cry-baby than me,  nowhere could there be found!
But I didn’t care as he made the call,  you could have shot me in the head,
And so that’s how I ended up,  on top of a hospital bed.
The nurse he came and said to me,  it will be the drip for you,
A catheter, some oxygen,  and may be some pethidine too.
I remembered thinking to myself,  that it’s just like on TV,
Except this wasn’t a TV script,  it was happening to me,
And with those thoughts swirling in my head,  the pain it finally lifted,
Tomorrows just another day,  and off to sleep I drifted.

DAY 2
I woke up early next morning,  feeling almost as fit as a fiddle,
Gone was that searing pain,  that had split me in the middle,
Instead I was ever so hungry,  and had a heck of a thirst,
But was told it’s ‘Nil By Mouth’,  from yet a different nurse.
I felt such a terrible fraud,  taking up much needed space,
I was certain someone else,  should be here in my place,
They all looked quite grey,  and in need of attention,
When the doctors come round,  I’ll give it a mention.
But when they finally came,  they said you’re really quite sick,
No food or fluid just lots of rest,  we hope should do the trick,
Your gall bladder’s inflamed,  and your pancreas is too,
Until your blood count’s normal,  this is the only home for you.

DAY 3
By now I’m almost fitting in,  to the daily pattern of things,
Getting to know the nurses who,  are like angels without wings,
With the patience of saints,  so much knowledge, and such care,
They put up with our moaning,   the dedication is there,
Even when I asked the Sister,  if I could get my first swill,
And got a nurse into trouble,  when she’d thought I was too ill,
And what of the patients,  such a motley crew,
Like the ‘nosy old biddy’,   that gets to know all about you,
They may draw the curtains,  around your bed,
But that doesn’t stop the wagging ears,  as she listens to what’s said.
Still it’s useful to know,  when another patient appears,
That she has the same thing as me,  as we listen ‘all ears’,

DAY 4
One more patient departs, although to us she’s not fit,
But they have found her a home,  where she can ponder and sit,
There’s a great need for beds here,  but they won’t let me out,
Even though I’m quite mobile,  and getting about.
Still, the so called ‘Slumber Parties’,  that we’ve been having in here,
Help to make you forget,  it’s not all wine and beer,
But mind you don’t tell,  the ‘Wicked Witch of the North’,
Or she’ll confine us to bed,  and not let us out of the ward.

DAY 5
Because we are so nosy,  and asking lots of questions,
A nurse helps us out by swatting up,   now isn’t that dedication!
She answers all our queries,  and puts our minds at rest,
She makes our stay a happy one,   she’s definitely the best,
But what a shame we still can’t eat,  and neither can we drink,
It can’t be for much longer,  at least that’s what we think,
Another nurse walks in the ward,   with something in her hand,
Three swabs for nose and back of throat, and down below, you understand…
It seems the lady in the home,  had more than just a fall,
Oh well we’ll just have to grin and bear it,  it’s not that bad at all.

DAY 6
Another patients flies the nest,   from our circle of new friends,
We’ve given a list of do’s and don’ts,  we hope she makes amends,
She must slow up and take a break, that’s what the doctor said,
Or before she knows it she’ll end up back here,  in probably the same bed,
There’s another new arrival,   with tubes and drains galore,
She tries to get up out of bed,  and nearly hits the floor,
But nurses to the rescue,   time and time again,
They really earn their pennies,  I give them ten out of ten.

DAY 7
Today is the day, I’m allowed some soup,  this really is a treat,
My mouth is drooling in anticipation,  of what I’m going to eat,
But what’s up now, what’s going on,   more action on the ward,
It’s the clean up crew out in full force,  who said in here you get bored,
Our cleaning lady’s not amused,  she wasn’t expecting this,
She says she has enough to do,  without adding to her list,
Down come the curtains,  out comes the mop,
There go my flowers, when will it stop,
The joker with his cloth in hand,   he had to have his say,
“Yesterday’s history, tomorrows a mystery,   live only for today”,
Who cares in here,   what tomorrow may bring?
We’re well looked after,  we don’t worry about a thing,
So on this hectic clean up day, I’ll finish this poem here,
As I can smell my first dinner,   as my favourite lady draws near!